Born in African refugee camps and raised in Australia, Mohamed Toure, Nestory Irankunda and Awer Mabil are carrying the Socceroos' World Cup hopes while showcasing the nation's increasingly diverse football identity.
Rohit Sharma has joined the Mumbai Indians squad ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season, as the five-time champions kick off their pre-season training camp.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has launched a new central contracts system, categorising players based on their specialisation in red-ball, white-ball (ODI/T20), and T20/franchise cricket. This new structure aims to provide clear pathways, improve financial benefits for red-ball players, and ensure transparency in selection through data analysis.
Tension gripped the north Kashmir Baltel base camp of the annual Amarnath yatra following clashes between security forces and locals on Thursday evening.
Mamata Banerjee is actively trying to prevent further defections from the TMC after a significant split, personally contacting rebel MLAs and deploying MPs for damage control. The crisis, stemming from a challenge to Abhishek Banerjee's influence, sees rebels trying to maintain Mamata's symbolic leadership while consolidating their own position, marking a critical period for the party's future.
The Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested three individuals from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan in connection with an alleged inter-state online radicalisation module. The module is believed to be operated by a Pakistan-based handler using encrypted messaging platforms, with central intelligence agencies providing initial inputs.
Around 6,400 security personnel have been positioned all along the route to the Amarnath cave shrine to foil terrorrist attacks
Delhi Police have apprehended a 17-year-old girl and three adults for their alleged involvement in an arson attack at a residential building in Govindpuri, southeast Delhi, which resulted in three deaths and eight injuries. The investigation revealed the fire was deliberately set due to a monetary and personal dispute.
The NCERT's Class 9 Social Science textbook now includes the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, explaining its purpose to ensure accurate voter lists. The textbook also commends the Election Commission of India (ECI) for conducting impartial polls despite challenges, highlighting the scale and autonomy of India's electoral process.
Iran will play their final World Cup warm-up behind closed doors in Turkey on Thursday before departing for their tournament base in Mexico on Saturday.
The England women's cricket team was forced to shift its T20 World Cup preparatory camp to South Africa after it had to call off its plans to travel to Abu Dhabi due to security concerns owing to the ongoing conflict in the region, involving United States, Israel and Iran.
Two Lok Sabha MPs from Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena-UBT, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar and Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, have confirmed their defection to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, citing reasons including a fund crunch and Thackeray's absence from local body polls. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde have virtually acknowledged the success of 'Operation Tiger', aimed at splitting Thackeray's faction.
As a ruler he was a pragmatist and adaptable, and trying all the time to strengthen and perpetuate the empire that he and his forefathers had built.He seldom, if ever, allowed his policies to be determined by his religious beliefs, notes Rudrangshu Mukherjee.
For Iran's team, the FIFA World Cup has been marred by fraught politics at home, the war with the US, and tensions over whether they would actually be able to set foot on US soil to play their games.
Rajasthan Royals' head coach Kumar Sangakkara and Royal Challengers Bengaluru's batting coach Dinesh Karthik have lauded 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, highlighting his exceptional talent, grounded nature, and immense confidence.
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has agreed to rework its selection criteria after talks with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) following the suspension of an assessment camp due to alleged irregularities. The decision comes after concerns were raised about transparency and fair play in the selection process for the Commonwealth and Asian Games.
Rediff reader Mridula Dwivedi is an academician from Gurgaon who blogs at Travel Tales from India. She ttrekked up to Everest Base Camp in May 2012 and sent us these amazing pictures.
Rebel Trinamool Congress MP Arup Chakraborty on Monday said the breakaway faction is trying to "rectify" the party, and would fight for the control of its election symbol, even as the Mamata Banerjee-led outfit termed the move illegal under the anti-defection law.
Former CPI(M) leader G Sudhakaran has accused the party of engaging in caste-based campaigning in the Ambalapuzha constituency, leading to a heated exchange with party officials.
Overcoming obstacles like cold temperatures and a high wind-chill, seven-year-old Aaryan Balaji has recorded his name in Mount Everest history by trekking all the way to the mountain's Southern Base Camp in Nepal situated at an altitude of 5,364 metres.
Portugal's latest bid for World Cup glory begins in Houston on Wednesday when they take on the Democratic Republic of Congo in a Group K clash.
Twenty-seven Maoists surrendered to police in Ranchi, Jharkhand, as part of 'Operation Navjeevan'. The rebels laid down their arms before senior officers, with authorities appealing to others to return to the mainstream.
Despite Pakistan not qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, Karachi is buzzing with excitement as the global event begins. "WC Football" villages have been set up in areas like Malir and Lyari, known for their love of the sport, featuring large screens, decorations, and enthusiastic fans. The city's passion for football is evident, with local clubs and administration organising events for youngsters, highlighting the sport's growing influence beyond cricket.
The Indian women's hockey team's goalkeepers attended a special camp led by Ireland's David Williamson, focusing on technical skills and tactical awareness in preparation for upcoming international tournaments.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has requested a meeting with the Governor, intensifying speculation about a potential change in leadership, with rumours suggesting he may resign to allow his deputy, D K Shivakumar, to take over.
A court in Mizoram's Aizawl district on Tuesday sentenced two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans to 42 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a woman and attacking her with acid in 2017.
The Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, a constituent of the Bhaatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, has staked claim to 32 seats for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with the aim to wrest the Samajwadi Party's stronghold of Azamgarh.
Nikhat Zareen expresses her disappointment over the administrative issues between the Boxing Federation of India and the Sports Authority of India, which she believes negatively impacted the boxers' preparations for major events.
Omar Abdullah has so far laboured hard to make best of a bad bargain. Even so, the ground reality is anything but reassuring. The Opposition parties, including notably the PDP, appear to be gaining ground, though more by default. Public patience with Omar's government has nearly run out, notes Mohammad Sayeed Malik, the distinguished commentator on Kashmir affairs.
Sonia Gandhi criticised PM Modi's Israel visit, calling it a "bewildering strategic decision" amid the regional conflict.
The Nationalist Citizens Party of India's campaign posters carry the message: 'To save your rights, reject political turncoats. Support social workers, not political personalities,' and urges voters to press the symbol of a pen nib.
Iran's national soccer team attended visa appointments in Ankara, Turkey, applying for Canadian visas and some players also submitting applications for US entry ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Imtiaz Ali's new film Main Vaapas Aaunga is set to delve into the enduring trauma of the 1947 Partition, continuing Bollywood's complex cinematic journey of depicting one of history's most violent and impactful events.
Four individuals, including a 17-year-old girl, have been apprehended for their alleged involvement in a deadly fire in Govindpuri, Delhi, which killed three family members and injured eight others. The fire was reportedly set deliberately to "teach a lesson" to a resident over an Rs 80,000 monetary dispute, with the intention of burning his scooter, but it tragically spread throughout the building. CCTV footage was crucial in identifying the suspects and confirming the incident as arson.
As the Shiv Sena marks 60 years, political experts highlight the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction's existential crisis and the Eknath Shinde-led group's struggle for relevance in the face of a dominant BJP, a significant shift from the party's historical 'elder brother' status in Maharashtra.
The Democratic Republic of Congo plans to continue its preparations for the 2026 World Cup despite a warning from the United States about a potential Ebola outbreak.
Afghanistan Test captain Hashmatullah Shahidi addressed Rashid Khan's Test future, stating it's a matter for selectors. Shahidi emphasised the need for Afghanistan to play more Test matches to develop their red-ball team, despite their domestic red-ball structure. He also highlighted the talent beyond T20 leagues and expressed confidence in his team's ability to handle conditions and compete against India.
Tamil Nadu's Kamali Moorthy won both the Women's Open and Surfing Juniors U-18 Girls titles at the seventh NMPA Indian Open of Surfing. Kishore Kumar also won the Men's Open category.
The 34-year-old Neymar faces two to three more weeks on the sidelines.
A CID team visited the Trinamool Congress (TMC)'s central office in Kolkata as part of an investigation into alleged forged signatures of MLAs. The controversy, which involves a proposal for the Leader of Opposition, has triggered an unprecedented split within the party, with a rebel faction electing its own leader. TMC leaders prevented the CID from entering the premises, citing the absence of national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
